FRESNO (KMJ) — The initial water supply from the Central Valley Project for south-of-Delta agricultural contractors has been slammed by Fresno County Farm Bureau, which branded the 35% allocation as a failure on the part of the federal government.
Following bountiful amounts of rain and snow, many had expected the allocation would be high. While the number was up from 2018, many have asked why the extra supply was not taken into account.
“Today’s announcement of a 35% water allocation for Fresno County’s West side federal water contractors once again shows the brokenness of California’s water systems,” said Fresno County Farm Bureau’s CEO Ryan Jacobsen in a statement.
“As I have stated many times before, federal water policy has failed everyone…it has failed to protect fish species and it’s failed to provide water to the communities, businesses and farms who need it most.”
Prior to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s announcement on Wednesday, Congress-members Jim Costa and T.J. Cox sent a letter to the agency asking for the allowance to take the recent rain and snowfall into account.
In a statement in response to the number, Congressman Jim Costa said he is pleased to see progress, but added “it is imperative that the Bureau recognizes the amount of current snowpack.”
Congressman T.J, Cox said farmers deserve the resources they need to do their jobs and plan for the future. “With the current snowpack and reservoir levels, Valley communities and farmers should be given the highest water allocation available.”
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s reasoning for why the allocation number is not higher is that there is concern that the typical spring precipitation does not materialize.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
